Everybody hates a tourist

Posted on April 26th, 2007 by Jackie Danicki

With all of the discussion and debate around ‘diversity’ and labels of late (including a really productive conversation last night with this bunch), one of my favorite records from the Britpop era keeps going through my head. I had forgotten just how bad-ass the video is, too.

She told me that her dad was loaded / I said, “In that case I’ll have rum and Coca-Cola.” / She said, “Fine.”/And then in thirty seconds’ time she said / “I want to live like common people / I want to do whatever common people do / I want to sleep with common people / I want to sleep with common people like you” / Well what else could I do? / I said, “I’ll see what I can do.”

…I said “Pretend you’ve got no money” / But she just laughed / And said, “Oh, you’re so funny!” / I said “Yeah? Well I can’t see anyone else smiling in here.” / Are you sure you want to live like common people…?

How hot was that dancing? How hot was Sadie Frost? How weak was that fight scene, which was actually censored out of the original video?

Filed under: Life

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7 Responses to “Everybody hates a tourist”

  1. Jim Treacher, on April 26th, 2007 at 9:17 pm Said:

    As tends to be the case, I like Shatner’s version better.

  2. TSS, on April 27th, 2007 at 3:24 am Said:

    The Shatner version is fabulous. But what I find really funny is that I watched that entire video and have no recollection of any fight scene at all.

  3. Steven Wood, on April 27th, 2007 at 5:15 am Said:

    I loved pulp, that’s one of my favourite songs from those days too. I also love “Babies”

  4. Tim Taylor, on April 27th, 2007 at 11:31 am Said:

    I absoultely love this song. I saw them on the Different Class tour in San Francisco at a place called Bimbo’s and they were electrifying.

    I dug the video but have to admit that I didn’t like the fact that they shaved off the verse that starts: “Like a dog lying in the corner….” and it later spins into “You will never understand what it means to live your life with no meaning or control and nowhere left to go” which is overwhelming to me when I hear it.

    I’ve never see this video and I guess it shouldn’t surprise me that it’s inventive and cool. When JC sang Underwear at the concert the stage was littered with underpants from women and probably some men too.

  5. nancy, on April 27th, 2007 at 3:32 pm Said:

    That was so fun! And I love the fight scene!
    Off to find Shatner, ‘cuz Treach said so.

  6. Maggie, on April 27th, 2007 at 3:36 pm Said:

    I’m seeing Jarvis Cocker this weekend! I’m hoping he’ll do “Common People” — even though I kinda prefer the Shatner version.

  7. Jackie Danicki, on April 27th, 2007 at 3:41 pm Said:

    Tim, I’m sooo jealous of you getting to see them on the Different Class tour! And I totally agree about the shortened song for the video. That part they cut is so powerful.

    BTW, for the ladies here: I never, ever understood Jarvis’s standing as a sex symbol. If anyone can explain it to me, please do.

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